Men’s Basketball Extends Road Series at Kennesaw State and WKU

Middle Tennessee men’s basketball is extending its four-game road trip with two crucial matchups this week. The team will face Kennesaw State on Thursday and travel to Western Kentucky on Saturday. The game against Kennesaw is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBSSN. Following that, the Blue Raiders will take on the Hilltoppers at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, with both games available for streaming on Blue Raider Network.

Blue Raider Performance Insights

Middle Tennessee is seeking to break a five-game losing streak as they approach the game in Kennesaw. Notably, the Blue Raiders have a perfect 9-0 record against Kennesaw State in their history, indicating a strong performance trend in past encounters.

In their recent game against Delaware, three players from Middle Tennessee scored over 20 points, a feat not achieved since February 15, 2025. Torey Alston and Kamari Lands each contributed 21 points, while Alec Oglesby added 20 points. Together, they made up over 70% of the team’s total points, showcasing exceptional teamwork with nine assists and just four turnovers.

Key Player Highlights

• Marcus Whitlock, Jr. delivered a standout performance against FIU, scoring 25 points with seven three-pointers and a flawless free-throw record.
• Torey Alston leads Middle Tennessee with five double-doubles this season, ranking second in Conference USA.
• Redshirt sophomore Whitlock previously signed with Kennesaw State before transferring to Middle Tennessee after a year off due to an injury.

Kennesaw State Outlook

Kennesaw State features a young roster, with no seniors or transfer players in their starting lineup. The Owls rank 20th nationally in field goal defense, allowing only 39.6% shooting from opposing teams. They also lead the conference and rank 10th in the nation with an impressive average of 5.7 blocks per game.

Sophomore RJ Johnson is the leading scorer for Kennesaw State, averaging 12.9 points per game with a shooting percentage of 47.7%.

Western Kentucky Series Overview

The upcoming contest against Western Kentucky adds another layer of importance to the road trip. Historically, the Hilltoppers lead the all-time series against Middle Tennessee with a record of 101-49. Western Kentucky currently holds a record of 13-11 overall and 6-7 in conference play.

They excel in offensive rebounding, ranking seventh nationally with an average of 14.38 offensive boards per game. However, their field goal percentage is concerning, sitting at 39.4%, among the lowest in Division I basketball.

Key Players for Western Kentucky

• Teagan Moore is the team’s leading scorer with an average of 17.2 points per game, although he has not played since January 21.
• Western Kentucky’s bench contributes significantly, leading the league with an average of 32.83 points per game from reserves.

As Middle Tennessee prepares for these crucial games, their road performance and achieving key milestones will be pivotal in their overall season strategy.